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Finally in 1908 the University had selected a head football coach that would last for more than three years. Having been born in Prague, Bohemia this 24 year old coach came to Fayetteville after a successful college career as a fullback for the famous Amos Alonzo Stagg at the University of Chicago. However in 1909, Hugo Francis Bezdek would become known for providing the incentive needed to change the former mascot name of Cardinals to the new name of Razorbacks. This season would also provide Arkansas' first undefeated season which would not happen again until the 1964 national championship season. Bezdek would go on to coach for a total of five seasons (1908-1912) before returning to the University of Oregon where he had started his coaching career in 1906.
In the next to his last season, the Hogs would record their largest score in Razorback football history. During the 1911 season the Hogs, as an Independent team, would post a record of 6-2-1 (loss to Texas, of course, 0-12 at Texas, and Kansas State 0-3 at Kansas, while a tie with Southwestern Texas 0-0 at Texas).
To everyone's surprise, this season would provide the historical game which would come in the initial meeting between Arkansas and the Missouri State Bears. As the season opener, the fans in Fayetteville were in for a real treat as they intently watched their Hogs put together the high scoring game that ended with a complete dismantling 100-0 shutout of Missouri State played on September 11. Arkansas' score sounds more like a present day basketball score, however this would prove to be the game that would go down as the one which would prove to be the Hogs' highest score and have no other to ever top in Razorback football history.
Since this historical meeting, the two teams have battled it out on the gridiron six other times. Arkansas has always come out on top in all of these meetings with the last one being played on September 3, 2011. Over the years the Hogs have put up a total of 345 points against 40 for Missouri State (of course, 100 of these are from the initial game in 1911).
Bezdek truly laid the cornerstone of the program when he came in as a Cardinal and left as a Razorback. Along the way, he would go on to lead the team to their first undefeated season and raise the bar for scoring all the way up to the century mark.
In the next to his last season, the Hogs would record their largest score in Razorback football history. During the 1911 season the Hogs, as an Independent team, would post a record of 6-2-1 (loss to Texas, of course, 0-12 at Texas, and Kansas State 0-3 at Kansas, while a tie with Southwestern Texas 0-0 at Texas).
To everyone's surprise, this season would provide the historical game which would come in the initial meeting between Arkansas and the Missouri State Bears. As the season opener, the fans in Fayetteville were in for a real treat as they intently watched their Hogs put together the high scoring game that ended with a complete dismantling 100-0 shutout of Missouri State played on September 11. Arkansas' score sounds more like a present day basketball score, however this would prove to be the game that would go down as the one which would prove to be the Hogs' highest score and have no other to ever top in Razorback football history.
Since this historical meeting, the two teams have battled it out on the gridiron six other times. Arkansas has always come out on top in all of these meetings with the last one being played on September 3, 2011. Over the years the Hogs have put up a total of 345 points against 40 for Missouri State (of course, 100 of these are from the initial game in 1911).
Bezdek truly laid the cornerstone of the program when he came in as a Cardinal and left as a Razorback. Along the way, he would go on to lead the team to their first undefeated season and raise the bar for scoring all the way up to the century mark.
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past.
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